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Deborah-Well, I stated the 800-900 a month before I knew how expensive things are in Maine. Now that I know the prices (generally) I'll be adjusting my budget.

It has been said before, but I'll state it again: Before you even THINK that you might want to move to Maine, you need to come here and explore for at least a few weeks, if not a month or more.

EVERYTHING that you have said that you want it not within your budget unless your bedget is merely a fraction of what you really have available to live on. Of course, the one exception might be that if you plan to come to Maine to start collecting welfare.

The towns in Maine are all small in comparison with other places. Yes, most towns of any size at all have a library. Most towns are not near one another, and there is little to NO public transportation in Maine, so if you move to a small town and have no transportation of your own, you will be simply stuck there.

From your comments so far, it seems like you may be thinking that Maine is exactly like where you are now, only somewhat different...somewhat smaller...somewhat, ah, "simpler".

I think you better do a LOT more reading. Start by looking at a map of Maine, and reading as much about some of the towns that you can find either on the town/city's own website, or elsewhere on the web. There is a LOT of information, and especially so on the individual town or city's web sites. Don't be fooled: if a town has a web site and there isn't much information there, it is probably because there isn't much in the town to put on the website.

To directly answer your initial question in a word, it is NO. Here is a brief summary: electric rates in Maine are around fifteen cents per kilowatt hour. Your minimum electric bill...the base cost of having an electric service...will be at least $15 per month. Cat food is forty-five cents per can. If you earn your living on line, cable or dsl connection will take about $35.00 per month, minimum. You might find a hole for $500 per month, but it might not be cable/Internet ready, and it probably won't include heat.....

Now, do some more reading, and then ask more questions. Ask some REAL questions.

(P.S. This is the curmudgeon speaking. I don't think this is a real inquiry. It reminds me of the old question: "can I buy a car for $50. Answer: Yes, you can. It won't run, but you CAN buy one for $50.)

Maine does offer some very inexpensive living. With Maine's low tax structure you can live here for much cheaper than you could in many other areas. However living cheap is obviously not living high on the hog. No new cars, no restaurant dining, you may be off-grid, and you may be chilly come winter.

As NMLM said the UTs are your best bet.

May I ask, tell us about your living conditions today. Do you own a home? Are you renting? How many bedrooms does your place have and how much is it costing you? If you are already accustomed to cooking your meals on a wood stove, then perhaps it would not be such a traumatic move.

I see 1 room flops in town that rent for cheap, folks who do not own a vehicle, and if that is your standard of living now, then moving to Maine might be comparable.

Our eldest son wanted dearly to live in a one-room cabin with a woodstove raising chickens and goats, off-grid and chopping firewood. We managed to convince him otherwise.

EVERYTHING that you have said that you want it not within your budget unless your bedget is merely a fraction of what you really have available to live on. Of course, the one exception might be that if you plan to come to Maine to start collecting welfare.

Yes, the budget I gave is only a fraction of what I have to live on. If I wanted to collect welfare, I'd do it in California.

I had no idea that living in Maine would be almost as expensive as living in California. I figured that since Maine had less people then California it would be cheaper. I realize now that it's not possible, I'll have to adjust my budget.

I have no pets so pet care isn't something I would spend money on.

I pay about 300 in rent (including internet, utilities and rent.) plus about 125 for groceries. Although I have a roommate here as well so that cuts down on costs.

reloop-Thank you for the website I appreciate you sending the link my way.

Yes, the budget I gave is only a fraction of what I have to live on. If I wanted to collect welfare, I'd do it in California.

I had no idea that living in Maine would be almost as expensive as living in California. I figured that since Maine had less people then California it would be cheaper. I realize now that it's not possible, I'll have to adjust my budget.

I have no pets so pet care isn't something I would spend money on.

I pay about 300 in rent (including internet, utilities and rent.) plus about 125 for groceries. Although I have a roommate here as well so that cuts down on costs.

reloop-Thank you for the website I appreciate you sending the link my way.

You are not going to find anything close to $300.00 a month in Maine with all utilities included., hell that won't even pay the oil bill for the owner of the building.

Yes, the budget I gave is only a fraction of what I have to live on. If I wanted to collect welfare, I'd do it in California.

I had no idea that living in Maine would be almost as expensive as living in California. I figured that since Maine had less people then California it would be cheaper. I realize now that it's not possible, I'll have to adjust my budget.

I have no pets so pet care isn't something I would spend money on.

I pay about 300 in rent (including internet, utilities and rent.) plus about 125 for groceries. Although I have a roommate here as well so that cuts down on costs.

reloop-Thank you for the website I appreciate you sending the link my way.

Ha, ha ha ha, you will not find anything closely resembling that in Maine.

Ha, ha ha ha, you will not find anything closely resembling that in Maine.

well, considering that the OP has a room mate, she probably pays about half of the total rent and $600/mo including utilities isn't unheard of in Maine at all. It's difficult (not impossible) to find something like that in Portland, but I know plenty of people who paid even less than that for places in Farmington (in fact, I paid 250 with a room mate in Farmington), Lewiston and Augusta and that's just personal knowledge. A quick glance at craigslist shows plenty of places for under $500 (even a studio in Freeport for $275/mo or a studio in Gorham Village with everything included-even internet- for $550/mo). They may not be huge or fancy, but I didn't see the OP mention anywhere that she was looking for a place at the Taj Mahal.

As has been established, it won't be EASY and it won't be the Ritz, but it's certainly not impossible. Parts of Maine may not be dirt cheap (some really aren't expensive), but its priciest areas are certainly not as expensive as Metro San Francisco, San Diego, or Los Angeles.

Last edited by lrfox; 09-14-2009 at 11:31 AM..

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